Text tabled : RC-B7-0392/2011

  Constance Le Grip (PPE) , in writing. – (FR) I decided to vote against the common resolution on the Schengen area. We must strengthen political governance of the Schengen area, develop a genuine European immigration and asylum policy, and develop the role of the European Frontex agency. We are not talking about undermining freedom of movement within the Schengen area, but of adapting this agreement to the reality on the ground in terms of migration. I do not, in fact, consider the content of this resolution to be wise, as it refuses on principle any enlargement of the criteria which allow for the reintroduction, on a temporary and exceptional basis, of internal border controls. This resolution runs counter to the conclusions of the European Council and the proposals recently made by the Commission, which I found to be balanced and realistic. It is important to review the current criteria for ‘public policy and public security’, which are not appropriate for current circumstances and which give the Member States too much freedom when it comes to their interpretation, particularly in the case of intense migratory pressures, with the ultimate risk of conflating immigration and insecurity. That is why I think it is highly desirable to create a European mechanism that allows for the reintroduction of border controls in exceptional circumstances, which would help to mitigate the shortcomings of certain Member States in controlling their external borders when placed under intense migratory pressures.